Tamron SP 70-300mm f/4‑5.6 Di VC USD

£330/$450

Conventional, but in a good way

Tamron’s 70-300mm VC USD is becoming a bit of a minority item, with its ring-type ultrasonic

autofocus system. That’s no bad thing, as AF performance is fast and quiet, and comes complete with manual override. Many will also prefer the mechanical coupling for the focus ring, which comes with a focus distance scale beneath a viewing panel.

The Canon- and Nikon-mount editions feature Tamron’s proprietary VC (Vibration Compensation) stabilisation system, while the Sony A-mount version relies on in-camera stabilisation. The large zoom ring at the front of the lens operates smoothly. Positioned towards the rear, the focus ring doesn’t rotate during autofocus, so it doesn’t impair handling. As with most Tamron lenses and not so many own-brand optics, it comes complete with a hood.

Performance

Helped by the inclusion of both an LD (Low Dispersion) and an XLD (eXtra Low Dispersion) element, levels of sharpness and contrast are very pleasing, and colour fringing is well-controlled.